The best food festivals in the UK this autumn — with free tastings, celeb chef appearances and pub takeovers

WELCOME to Tuesday’s travel special, where we bring you inspiration for holidays at home and abroad.

This week, we have seven sensational food and drink experiences around the UK this autumn.

Let’s just hope the weather is better than it has been for most of this this summer.

Cider sleepovers

SPEND the night on one of Herefordshire’s working cider farms.

The Dragon Orchard Retreat in Putley, Ledbury, is a new hideaway offering glamping in hand-crafted yurts.

Open until the end of October, prices start from £110 per night.

The Cider Shack is one of two new cider sleepover options at Ty Gwyn Holidays, overlooking Penylan Farm, home to the award-winning Ty Gwyn Cider.

Guests can enjoy a free tasting after a day spent exploring the Golden Valley.

There is also the new Arlington Dairy, a beautiful single-storey cottage, to bunk down in.

Two nights in The Cider Shack cost from £240. For information, see visitherefordshire.co.uk.

Great Wight bite

A NEW food festival championing the Isle of Wight’s makers and producers takes place in the historic grounds of Northwood House, Cowes, on September 9 and 10.

With demonstrations from chefs including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, food and drink stalls and a Little Chefs’ Den for youngsters, there’s also a smoking lobster pop-up restaurant, masterclass kitchen and live music.

Tickets from £5. See greatwightbite.co.uk.

Three nights’ self-catering in a three-bed caravan sleeping up to eight at Parkdean Resorts’ Thorness Bay Holiday Park is from £149 in total, arriving September 8. See parkdeanresorts.co.uk.

Ludlow Food Festival

BILLING itself as the UK’s original food festival, the Shropshire show has been going for over 30 years.

It attracts 15,000 visitors and more than 100 local exhibitors highlighting their artisan products.

The festival, in the grounds of medieval Ludlow Castle, runs from September 8 to 10 and features workshops, demos and tastings, plus local and well-known chefs on three main stages.

Tickets are from £14.50 per adult and £4 per child, with under-fives going free. See ludlowfoodfestival.co.uk.

You can also stay in a camping pod at Churchbridge Glamping, with two nights from £175 in total. See pitchup.com.

Devon Food Festival

THE Taste East Devon festival unites the region’s finest venues, chefs, producers and restaurants, including the famous River Cottage, to celebrate gastronomy.

From September 9 to 24, there are events across the region, including Darts Farm’s City To Sea Taste Trail, a culinary cycling adventure along the Exe estuary.

Coldharbour Farm Shop and Field Kitchen has a pop-up farmers’ market and Blackberry Honey Farm’s Taste Of Honey will feature honey tastings, a honey cream tea and a tour of the pollinator gardens.

The festival ends with Heron Farm’s Party In The Vineyard on September 24, a family-friendly celebration within a walled garden.

Info at tasteeastdevon.co.uk.

Taste of Scilly

THIS festival on the Isles of Scilly, from September 15-24, promises ten days of food and drink events celebrating local flavours and island specialities.

Island-hopping safaris, food markets, a new cider and ale festival, wine tastings, pub takeovers and beach barbecues are on the cards.